Paving-block



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PAVING BLOGK No. 508,537. Patented Nov. 14,1893.

UNITED STAT-Es:

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PATENT @unica HORACE BRUN SON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO CLIFFORD CHARLEY COULTER, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO. 1

PAVING- BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 508,537, dated November14, 1893.

. Application filed July 14, 1893. Serial No. 480,517. (Nomodel.)

.To all whom it may concern/b Be it known that I, HORACE BRUNsoN, alcitizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovementsin Paving-Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to artificial blocks of cement building stone orsimilar material, such for instance as is used in side walks, streetpaving and the like, and it has for its object to provide such a blockas can be laidV down, taken up and replaced, and which when laid willretain its proper and desired contour and be practically unaffected bythe elements, and to these ends my invention consists in a block made up of suitable cement or composition and provided with internal strengthening devices which are embedded in the material tending to maintain itin a rigid and uniform condition under all conditions.

My invention is in the nature of an improvement on my prior patent, No.469,229, dated February 23, 1892.

Referring to the accompanyingdrawings, in which I have illustrated thepreferred embodiment of my invention-Figure 1, is a perspective view,the outlines of the block being .shown in dotted lines andthestrengthening The blocks may be of any desired shape or contour, but Ihave shown them in the accompanying drawings of rectangular 'form aboutone and a half times as long as they are broad, and of sufficientthickness to be readily used under the desired conditions. The blocksmay be composed of any cement, compound or artificial stone or the like,and in order to strengthen the block I embed in the cement thestrengthening ribs or rods, and while these rods may be of any suitablematerial, I preferably make them of iron and bent or shapedsubstantially as indicated and more particularly pointed outhereinafter. The rods preferably do not extend to the outward edge ofthe block but are so arranged as to be inclosed in the material of theblock,

exposing only the cement, stone or other surface. "lhus in the drawingsI have shown three longitudinal ribs, a, b, c, and these are made offiat bar iron, as shown at a, or of angle iron as shown at c, or of anyother similar and desirable merchantable bar or other form of iron. ItWill be seen that the outer bars cr, c, are curved in one direction sothat their ends approach nearly to the under side of the block, whiletheir central portions approach nearly to the upper side, While the barl), is curved in an opposite direction and is similarly arranged.

Extending transversely substantially the VWidth of the block is the bard, and this is 'also formed of any desired material and configurationand is curved inthe manner shown so that its ends extend nearly to theunder surface between the curved portions of the bars a, c, While itscentral portion extends nearly to the upper surface above the bar b.This is the preferred arrangement and I nd that these four bars in ablock of ordinary size are sufficient to accomplish the purposesdesired, but it is evident that I can use more or less bars, bothlongitudinally and transversely, depending upon the size of the blocksand other considerations, without departing from the spirit of myinvention. The bars being curved and arranged with their curvesextending in opposite directions, tend to resist any tendency to Warp orheave.

It will be understood that in forming the blocks the bars are arrangedin the desired relation in the mold and the' material in its plasticcondition is molded around the bars and allowed to set, and when this isaccomplished the block is all ready for use and can be laid and taken upand relaid and arranged to meet the requirements of any particular casewithout dangerof destroying or injuring them and they will serve toproduce a smooth and even surface and form a desirable sidewalk orpavement.

l. A paving block comprising a mass of cement orsimilar material havingembedded therein the separate bars, the bars being curved and arrangedout of contact with each other substantially as hereinbefore described.

2. A paving block comprising a mass of IOO lo out of contact with eachother and with their curves extending in alternate directions and atransverse curved bar interlocking with the longitudinal bar,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of I5 two subscribing witnesses.

HORACE BRUNSON.

Witnesses:

HORATIO G. KIMBALL, WILLIAM P. KIMBALL.

